Kleeja vs ShareDrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Kleeja | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 75 · Good | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 193 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2006 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Kleeja and ShareDrop?
Kleeja
Kleeja is a long-running PHP application for uploading and sharing files and images. It supports multiple languages, themes, and a plugin system for extension.
- Plugin and theme system
- Multilingual interface
- Long-standing project
ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a browser-based peer-to-peer file sharing app using WebRTC. It lets devices on the same network exchange files directly without uploading to a server.
- WebRTC peer-to-peer transfer
- No server-side storage
- Works across local networks
Kleeja vs ShareDrop: key differences
Kleeja is written in PHP, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Kleeja versus MIT for ShareDrop. ShareDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Kleeja. Kleeja is the more established project (first released 2006), while ShareDrop arrived in 2014. ShareDrop has the considerably larger community, at 10,753 GitHub stars versus 193. ShareDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; Kleeja does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kleeja if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose ShareDrop if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Kleeja or ShareDrop better?
Neither is universally better. ShareDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Kleeja and ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Kleeja is licensed under GPL-3.0 and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kleeja and ShareDrop with Docker?
Kleeja: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kleeja or ShareDrop?
ShareDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Kleeja. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.